Fire-extinguisher system.



PATBNTED N0V.-127

W. G. ALLEN & F. G. PEELEY.

FIRE BXTINGUISHER SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11. 1906.

2 sums-snarl.

Witnesses No. 871,021. PATENTED NOV. 12, 1907.

W. G. ALLEN & F. G. FEELEY.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11. 1906.

2 SHBETS-SHEET 2.

375% WWW X- I UNITE WILLIAM G. ALLEN AND FRANK G. FEELEY, ()F AKRON, OHIO.

FIRE-EX'IIN'GUISHLER SYSTEM.

noffevinzi.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1907.

Application filed May 11. 1906- Serial No. 316.406.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it lmown that we; WILLIAM G. ALLEN and FRANK G; Fnnnnvycitizens of the United States, residing at Akronyin'the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Extinguisher Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This. invention relates to improvements in auto matic-fire-extinguisher systems, and the object is to provide 'a valve of simple construction for autonuuically connecting the sprinkler system with the watcr supply upon the automatic opening of one or more oi the sprinklers caused by the excessive heat generated valve being positive and reliable in its "action.

With' the, above objectin view, the invention consists in thenovel featuresol construction hereinafter fully. described, particularly pointed out in the claims, and"cles.rly illustrated by the accompanying drawings, 'in' which,

Figure 1 is a sectional view showing the valvemechanism in, normal position, closing communication between the system and water-supply, and Fig. 2, a similar view showing the position of the parts when the mechanism has operated to establish such communication.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, 1 designates the valve-casing proper to which access may be had through an opening 2 provided with a cover 3. 4 indicates the Water-inlet which is connected with the water-supply and 5 the outlet therefor which is in communication with the sprinkler system, through check-valveSO. The inlet 4 is provided with -mally held to its seat by a toggle consisting of two members 8 and 9. Member 9 restsat its free end in a depression 10 formed in the inner face of the valve disk and at its opposite end is formed with a loop 11 to receive a lug 12 carried by an'arm 13 projecting from the end of a sliding plunger 14. The lug 12, when the toggle is in position holding the valve to its scat, bears against a seat 15 formed in member 9. Member 8 is -iormed of two parts, 8 and 8, the part 8 having a 45 loop 16 on one end to receive a pin or stud 17 carried by the casing and having its opposite end screwthreaded for adjustable connection with the other part 8 which is in the form of a nut having a projecting .13 of the sliding plunger.

supply until the plunger is moved forwardly to break the toggle.

The valve-casing is formed with a contracted portion 20 in which a bushing 21 is fitted having a seal. 22 at its inner end, and in said bushing, the plunger 14 slides, said plunger having a valve portion 23 at its inner end which when it is in forward position engages seat 22 and prevents escape of the 'Zllt'l from the cusing at this point. Any slight leakage at this seat is collected in annular groove 24 in the bushing and conveyed outside by the drain pass-ago 25.

The plunger is operated by a weight 26 which is pivotally supported on a piuor ,tud 27. Said weight is provided on one side of its pivot with an operating arm 28 which works in a slot in the plunger and effects the movomcnt of the latter.

29 designates the air-pot or chamber having a seat 30 for a pivoted valve-disk 31 which is normally held thorcou by air-pressure in the chamber. The airspace in the chamber is in communicationwith the sprinkler system through the port 32, the connection with the system being made in the top of the riser. A. check-valve on top of casing 1 excludes the air-pres sure, from the body 01' valve-casing. On the lace opposite to that acted on by the air-prcssurc, this valvedisk 31 is provided with a stud 33, against which, when the disk is seated, the free end of a pivoted lever 34 bears. When said disk is seated by air-pressure the weight is held raised by a rod or stem 35 which bears at one end against the lever 34 and at its opposite end against a projection 36 on the opposite side of the weight to its, major portion. The plunger is held from movement by a member consisting of a retaining device comprising two parls 37 and 38. The part or strut 38 is pivotally attached to a too 39 on the weight 26 and at,'its oppositc end is loosely connected with the part or lcX'cr 37, the latter carrying a pin or stud 40 working in a loop 4'! formed in the end of said strut 3S. Lover 37, when thrmcchanism is in its normal position shutting off the supply of water, engages at its 1 free end a member =12 projecting from thecontructcd chamber or pot above the valve-disk 31.

portion 20 of the valve-casing at thei'orward end of the plunger. Said lever 37 is provided with a seal -13 receiving a stem -14 projecting from thd forward end of the plunger. The position oi lever 37 lixcd by 9, lug 4;) on the weight 245, said lug being most clearly lllllstlzlir-(l in Fig. 2:

The operation of my improved valve is as follows: Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 1, a sprinkler or several sprlnklcrs open and reduce pressure in thrsystcm and consequently in the airlhis causes the weight 26 to overcome the pressure on said disk, raising the latter. As lever 34 and the disk 3] revolve about their pivots, the surfaces in contact slide on each other until the end of said lever disengages the stud 33, permitting the disk to resume its former position and prevents the water when it has filled the system from flowing through at this point. The weight when falling carries with it the outer end of memher or strut 38, and as said weight Continues to fall this strut 38 and the part or lever 37 assume a straight line and are jerked free from the member or hook 42 and from the plunger. The plunger being free to move forward, its movement is effected by the arm 28 of the weight. The forward movement of the plunger breaks the toggle and releases the valve disk -7 which is opened by the force of the water supply which then flows into the system. Should the parts be stuck by corrosion or from any other cause, they are freed by the blow de livered to the plunger by an inwardly-projecting horn or lug 46 formed on said weight.

It is impossible to reset the valve without draining the system and air-line connecting with the air pot as the lever 34 cannot be reset in its proper position without raising the valve disk 31 which cannot be done with a load of water in the air-pipe. 'Any strain on' the parts due to stress on said valve increases the buckle of the toggle which is on the. side of safety instead of tending to clog the operation of the valve The tripping point is enti'rely independent of the water-pressure or screw-stress, as both of these stresses are transmitted to the, body itself, partly through the lever 37 to the member ,42 and partly through said lever 37, strut38 and weight 26 to the pivotal pin of said weight which is secured in a bracket formed integral with the body., The latter is true, since the two bearings of the strut or part 38 and the bearing of the pivotal end of the Weight on the pivotal pin-are in a straight line. As before stated, it is impossible to set these points otherwise, as the position of the lover or part 37 is fixed by the lug'45 on said weight.

The cover 47 of the air-pot and the cover 3 of the valve easing proper are interchangeable and the lower part of the air pot is so formed that it, with the lower shield 48 and door 49 entirely inclosc all moving parts. {LL-heck valve is bolted to the top of the body of the valve casing and the sprinkler system riser flanged-on top of it. A .mechanical alarm may be ar-' ranged in the back shield 48 so that when thewcight ialls, it will .close the circuit andsound an alarm.

At the bottom of the valve casing proper an automatic drip is attached, which takes care of any accidental leakage past seat 6 but closes as soon as the valve casing fills with. water by the opening of the valve, thereby preventing further waste. if desired, a'ivater motor-alarnrcan be attached at this point.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is;

1. A valve for uiomatlc lircextinguishor systems, comprising a casing having an inlet connected with it water supply and an outlet in communiontiou with the system, :1 vnlvc disk for normally closing said inlet, at

sliding member, a toggle-device comprising two members, one of which is pivotally mounted at one end in the casing engaging at its opposite end said sliding member and the other member pivotnlly mounted on said sliding member and arranged to have longitudinal movement on its pivot and engaging at its opposite end said valve-disk, a pivoted weightdever adapted by its movement in one direction to eiieet the movement of said slidlng-men1ber, and means controlled by alr pressure in the systems for holding said weight normally suspended.

2. A valve for automatic fire-extinguisher systems comprising a casing having an inlet connected to a water-sup ply and an outlet in communication with the system, a valve-disk for normally closing said inlet, a toggle-device for holding said valve-disk to its seat, a sliding-member operatively connected with said toggle device, a pivoted weight lever adapted by its movement in one direction to effect the movement of said slidingdevlce means controlled by air pressure In the system for holding said weight normally suspended and means for holding the slidingme nber from movement operative'to release the same by the movement of the weight.

A valve for automatic fire-extinguisher systems comprising a casing having an inlet connected to ;1 water sup-. ply and an outlet in communication with the system, a valve-disk for normally Iclosing said inlet, a toggle device for holding said valve to'lts' seat, a sliding member having weight lever constructed and arranged to eflect the move-' ment of the sliding device, an air chamber in communication with the system, a movable member in said chamber controlled by said air pressure, means interposed'be'tween said movable member and the weight lever for holding the her from movement operated by the weight-lever.

4. A valve for automatic fire-extinguisher systems, comprising a casing having an inlet connected to a water supply, and an outlet in communication with the system, :1 valve-disk normally closing said inlet, a toggle-device for holding said valve-disk to its seat, a sllding-member having an operative connection with said toggle device, an air-chamber in communication with the system, 'a disk in said air-chamber normally held to its seat by air-pressure, a pivoted lever engaging said dish, a pivoted weight lever for actuating said sliding-member, a stem interposed be tween said weight lever and the first-mentloned lever whereby the former is held suspended while said airrdisk is seated, and means for holding the sliding-member from movement operated to release the same by the movement of the weight-lever.

5. A valve for automatic lire-extinguisher systems, com, prising a casing having on inlet connected to a water supply and an outlet having communication with the.system,,'

. :i valve-disk normally closing said inlet, a toggle device for holding said valve on its sent, a sliding member lnivlng an operativeconnection wlth soid toggle device, a pivoted weight-lever arranged to effect the movement of the sliding member; means controlled by air-pressure in the system for ventingmovement oi the sildlng-memlier comprising two members loosely connected, one of said members being pivolully attached to the weight lever and the other adapted when the device is set to engage ii fixed portion of the valve (using and disposed in such a position as to prevent movement of the sliding-member.

in testimony whereof we uiiix our signatures in presence ofiwo witnesses. j

WILLIAM fl; Alilil lh FRANK o. liuntn'v.

\VHIIcsscs:

.i. ll. Amos,

and arranged to have longitudinal play on its pivot and an operative connection with said toggle device, it pivoted lntte'r suspended, and means for holding the sliding mem holding said weight suspended, and means inn'inally pre- 

